Number of planners elected to chartered membership via APC route increases

The number of planners elected to chartered membership via the Royal Town Planning Institute's Assessment of Professional Competence (APC) route increased by nearly 30 per cent between 2014 and 2015, new figures show.

Phil Williams became the new RTPI president earlier this year

There are different routes that can be taken to become a chartered town planner, including the APC, which combines a minimum of 24 months' professional planning experience with a fully RTPI accredited degree.

The RTPI said the number of planning professionals elected to chartered membership via the APC hit 430 in 2015 - an increase of 28 per cent from 2014.

It also showed that the number of first-time applicants seeking to become chartered town planners rose 15 per cent between 2014 and 2015 to hit 463.

A total of 45 per cent succeeded in becoming a chartered member with their first attempt, it added.

Martine Koch, head of membership at the RTPI, said chartered membership is the "most highly valued professional status for planners".

She said: "It demonstrates to clients, peers, the public and employers around the world that the individual work to the highest professional and ethical standards. The increase in applications seems to suggest a growing demand for planning professionals of the highest calibre."

Earlier this year the RTPI announced that other routes to become a chartered member were changing to become competency based and modelled on the APC route.